stephenbooth's Journal: Gary Jules: Downloading may have helped sales

On BBC breakfast news they were interviewing Gary Jules (had the Christmas number one in the UK with a cover version of "Mad World" (originally by Tears For Fears) which is in the process of being released in the US, it was the biggest selling single in the UK of 2003). He was asked for his views on downloading and online sharing of music. He pointed out that his cover of "Mad World" had been massively downloaded in the UK prior to it's official release and had enjoyed massive sales and air play (mostly through members of the public who had heard downloaded versions phoning radio stations to request it). He further went on to say that no record comapny would touch it until it's popularity had been demonstrated through downloads and that many people in the US had downloaded the song because that was the only way they could get hold of it.

Kinda re-enforces the arguement that p2p/downloading actually improves CD sales, not damages them.

Stephen